254 The Life of Fred Archer 
Lord George Bentinck, he would not have left a cardseller 
with a shirt to his back. 
" The owner of Melton is, as we have already said, a quiet, 
unassuming man, who does not bet, and he presents quite a 
pretty picture in the park driving with Lady Hastings, their 
little son, aged three, holding the reins. Like most quiet men, 
Lord Hastings is very firm of purpose, and last year, when his 
quasi-confederate, the Duke of Portland, severed his relations 
with Archer, Lord Hastings may well have thought, if he did 
not say, ' That may be all very well for you, but look at Melton, 
and the big races he is in next year. I shall enforce my claim.' 
" Had Lord Hastings acted as the Duke of Portland did 
we should not now have to write of him as the owner of the 
Blue Riband, for if ever a race was won by the jockey rather 
than the horse it was the last Derby. 
" Had Melton been sent to Newmarket as a yearling, 
without any reserve being placed upon him, he would not 
have fetched fifty guineas ; and, more likely still, Mr. Tatter- 
saU, failing to obtain a bid, would have had to say, a ' Take him 
away.' 
" He had neither size nor breeding to recommend him, 
only exquisite quality. His excellence lies in his action, 
which is absolutely perfect, and as he moves over the ground 
he is a veritable thing of air. General Owen Williams, 
who is an old cavalry officer, is of opinion that the most perfect 
piece of machinery in action that was ever seen is the stride 
of The Bard, but, to our mind, we never saw a horse skim over 
the turf with the same ease and elegance as Melton." 
"Warren House, Newmarket, 
" September 29. 
" Please accept the enclosed cheque as a small present for 
this year's Leger win. 
" Yours truly, 
" Hastings." 
